Gambia: Benedict Jammeh Removed As NDEA DG Replaced By Samba Gagigo

Confirmed Information reaching Foroyaa has it that Mr. Benedict Jammeh, the Director General of the National Drug Law, Enforcement Agency (NDEA), has been removed from his post with effect from Thursday 10 January and is replaced by Mr. Samba Gagigo, former Administrative Secretary of the ruling APRC party on Friday 11 January.

Mr. Jammeh has served as the Director General of NDEA since 22 April 2010.

According to the information, Mr. Jammeh was picked up by officers of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), at his office during official working hours and was taken into custody where he was briefly detained and released on bail within a short period of time.

When contacted, the Spokesperson of NDEA, Superintendent Abdoulie Ceesay, confirmed the removal of Benedict Jammeh and the appointment of Samba Gagigo with effect from Friday 11 January.

When asked about the fate of his former Director General, PRO Ceesay said Benedict Jammeh is at his home with his family.

Upon completion of his studies, he worked at the Prosecution Unit of The Gambia Police Force until on 25 April 2007, when he was appointed as the Inspector General of Police (IGP). On 16 June 2008, he was removed from the position of IGP and appointed as a senior Magistrate at the Bundung Magistrates' Court. On 29 June 2008, he was appointed as the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), a position he held till 14 August 2008, when he was removed.

He then worked at the National Training Authority (NTA), as an adviser from 23 September 2008, at the same time serving as a part time Business Law Lecturer at The Gambia Technical Training Institute (GTTI), until on 22 April 2010, when he was appointed as the Director General of NDEA, the position he held up to Thursday 10 January 2013.

Shortly after he took over the mantle of NDEA, in May 2010, his officers uncovered the biggest drug catch in the history of NDEA by seizing 2 tons of cocaine hidden at an Island at Bonto Village with the estimated street value of more than 2 Billion US dollars. Shortly after, several people linked to the captured drug were arrested and prosecuted on the charges of drug trafficking in The Gambia.

On Tuesday 8 January, Mr. Jammeh was at the National Assembly presenting the Financial Statement of NDEA and was applauded by the Parliamentarians for a job well done, but urged to re-double their efforts in the fight against drug trafficking.

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